Chisme Cantina

I've dined in and ordered to go. I love all their food options vegan and meat. I recommend the vegan eggplant burrito. The quesadillas are good as well. Love the jackfruit option.

We were here for my wife's bday; intended to dine in. However, we were unable to find a parking spot around. Had to order takeout. We ordered all the vegan tacos on menu - Eggplant, Jacfruit & Plantain. My favorites were the jackfruit and plantain; interesting blend; tasted great with the green salsa they provided. Eggplant taco was also quite unique coated with some spices.

We also ordered a side of potatoes with their coconut milk/creamy ranch. It was quite bland and average in taste. Kudos to the attempt at making a vegan ranch.

The servers at the counter had an unfriendly & cold attitude. My wife inquired whether dogs are allowed; they acted clueless saying we are iffy about it and it depends on the day. Their yelp page does state that dogs are allowed. It would be great to have that clarity and keep the page updated; so customers can plan their dinner accordingly.

3.5/5; would like to dine in and eat the tacos hot to improve my rating. Also providing an opportunity to improve on their customer service.

Prices are okay--a bit expensive for what it is. The burritos are a little strange? I've never met a burrito that I don't like, but I was not in love with this one. The pineapple and coconut and lettuce (?) clashed a little, but they have lots of vegan options! The coconut horchata is definitely very coconut-y and refreshing. Overall, not a bad establishment. Good amount of seats. Impossible to find parking on any nearby street.

Rumors have been flying about this taco spot in Nob Hill since it opened in 2017, but the buzz is so much more than mere gossip. Although that's the translation of Chisme, the bespoke restaurant has proven itself a worthy contender in a city teeming with Mexican eateries. Menu options are focused on a short list of fillings to swaddle in soft, handmade tortillas, served two per order. Simple yet irresistible appetizer staples like chips and guacamole or fried potatoes do beckon, but stay focused here. Take a closer look at those taco options. Not only are the vegan choices clearly marked, but compared to the more meaty entrees, they dominate the colorful paper printout.

Fusion is the name of the game for these unconventional offerings, such as eggplant slathered in peanut mole, or plantains and black beans paired with a creamy coconut ranch dressing. Perish the thought of strained, unsatisfying attempts at "authenticity" here; flavor comes first, regardless of origin. Chisme caters to a different sort of crowd, and those customers seem to be eating it up.

Order at the front, grab a number, and take a seat at the communal table or benches. One might call the space spare and the service no-frills, but it's warm and friendly, open and inviting, regardless. Besides, in a matter of minutes your surroundings will become irrelevant as a hot plate of food drops in front of you. If there's only one dish to order, it's the Jackfruit Taco. Marinated in a savory sauce and fried to crispy perfection, it remains juicy inside, with an impossibly meaty bite all the way though. Greens and cabbage are par for the course, adding a bit of freshness and crunch to the conversation, but the unexpected brightness of the mint verde sauce truly seals the deal. It sounds like a crazy combination, but trust me, it just works.

Don't sleep on that fiery green hot sauce that comes on the side, either. It's the sort of condiment that people would steal if it was put into bottles, or for those with more restraint, buy by the case if it was sold in stores. If the heat becomes overwhelming, cool down with a dairy-free coconut horchata for dessert. The sweetness of this cinnamon-spiked elixir could easily rival that of a proper milkshake, but is a welcome refreshment on a hot day.

Stop the gossip and get the facts. Chisme is the real deal.

Chisme is a friendly little spot with real high quality food. Food options for all diets with very fresh ingredients. I've had these tacos, and two different types of salads. All of them tasted great and they were relatively healthy. Absolutely love the food. It's not authentic Mexican food all the way so if that's what you're looking for this isn't quite it. It's sort of a healthier take on Mexican. The only problem with chisme, and it's a huge problem, is their pricing. Even for San Francisco the prices are unreasonable. Can't let that slide. These tacos were good but for the two of them they were $15. I know the ingredients are high quality but that is outrageous. Other than that I really like this spot when I'm trying to feel slightly healthy.
(4.4 Stars)

Disappointed food was very bland not much flavor $53 for two burritos chips guac and one soda. Was not worth the $ plus no parking so I used public parking. (Another $20).

Vegetarian reviewer: I absolutely loved the jackfruit tacos. Noone's pointlessly hyping up this dish. It is delicious- for real. Do not hesitate, get this with/without other items.
I Really wanted to try the jackfruit quesadilla- but didn't want to get that coz I was trying this place for the very first time. I'll definitely get this too when I visit next!
I think for the 15 bucks they charge - it's absolutely worth it, coz it's full of jackfruit pieces and those are yumm! The cafe has a nice vibe too - looks like a cool and a nice date cafe.
They greeted me well- and also asked if I wanted hot sauce with the tacos. It was pretty hot - and well made in the house.

The chips and salsa was pretty meh- nothing good about it. Chips was very oily and then salsa was mediocre. Reducing 1 * for that, but all in all great!!

Casual modern Cal-Mex eatery with an urban vibe; most dishes are around $15. At first glance if seems a bit pricey: $15 for two tacos?! But their tacos are pretty packed and two can, with some chips and salsa (free if you follow them on Instagram), serve as a good meal.

Self-service (you order at the counter) and you pick wherever you want to sit. Nice and spacious dining room with high ceilings. Fast service so suitable when you're in a hurry.

I was going to The Cobbler a couple blocks away & found a parking space in front of Chisme Cantina. I really lucked out.
The interior is clean & artsy. Love the row of honey bears along the counter.
I ordered the skirt steak taco, the order comes with two.
Every ingredient was fresh, guacamole, queso fresco, cilantro, caramelized onions, peanut mole. The salsa verde on the side had a real kick. The only bummer was that some steak pieces were gristly - too enthusiastic with the cleaver perhaps. Despite that I would order again because the taco was so flavorful. Next time I'm trying the pulled chicken.
Check this lovely place out. The service is friendly & they're a locally owned business that is struggling since COVID with the decline of foot traffic.
TIP- get extra napkins

got 4 pairs of tacos: steak, mahi, jackfruit, plantain (via). love the unique flavors here - I'm normally always a meat person but was a big fan of this quartet with 2 vegan options. high quality and each with a distinct taste / texture. the coconut ranch in the mahi and via added delicious creaminess without being overly rich, and complemented the tanginess of the salsas. love the sunflower mole in the steak.